Bitten: Women of the Otherworld, Book 1

Young, beautiful, and successful, Elena Michaels seems to have it all. Her happy, organized life follows a predictable pattern: filing stories for her job as a journalist, working out at the gym, living with her architect boyfriend, and lunching with her girlfriends from the office. And once a week, in the dead of night, she streaks through a downtown ravine, naked and furred, tearing at the throats of her animal prey. Elena Michaels is a werewolf.

My favorite Audio title

I was so pleased when Audible picked up bitten, its my favorite audiobook. This is the story of Elana Michaels, a werewolf and her love/hate relations..Show More »hp with her boyfriend Clay. I particularly love the narrator, Aasne Vigesaa who does a great job of the male characters... She really has so much talent, its too bad she doesn't narrate more books.

This novel is fairly violent and graphic so I wouldn't recommend it for younger readers, but its a werewolf novel so er... What can you really expect.

Stolen: Women of the Otherworld, Book 2

In Stolen, on a mission for her own elite pack, Elena Michaels is lured into the net of ruthless Internet billionaire Tyrone Winsloe, who has funded a bogus scientific investigation of the "other races" and their supernatural powers. Kidnapped and studied in his underground lab deep in the Maine woods, these paranormals - witches, vampires, shamans, werewolves - are then released and hunted to the death in a real-world video game.

great story...wrong choice for narrator

I had decided to listen to all of the "Women (and Men) of the Otherworld" series by Kelley Armstrong, after listening and enjoying her first book "Bit..Show More »ten." The pace was right, the story enticing and clever and the charactors were well developed. Armstrong continued with character development, although this book could have probably been half as long as it was. There were so many times that I just wanted to fast forward through some dull prose that turned out not to have a thing to do with the ending of the story, but I hung in there, hoping it would pick up towards the end, which it did.

I cannot give this book the four stars that it could have earned, because this review is for the audio version of the book, and that was poor. The choice of Nell Canning to read was a mistake. A red flag went up when she read the title of the book, and said "women of the underworld" instead of "women of the otherworld."

Her interpretation of Elena was way off, having given her a macho, rough voice instead of the feminine voice that Aasne Vigesaa had given her in the first book. As another reviewer stated, her southern accent of Clay makes him sound like a country bumpkin instead of an educated college professor, and she just can't pull off Jeramy's command in his role as pack leader.

The producers are the ones who are guilty of putting the wrong narrator in the studio, and really need to make it right. I will probably listen to the rest of the series, but I hope the choice of narrators is better.

Dime Store Magic

Paige Winterbourne is a witch. Not that you'd notice - no warts, no green skin, no cute little wiggle of the nose whenever she casts a spell. No, most of the time she's just a normal 23-year-old girl; works too hard, worries about her weight, wonders if she'll ever find a boyfriend. Okay, so she does have an adopted teenage daughter, Savannah, who wants to raise her black witch of a mother from the dead. And who is being stalked by a telekinetic half-demon and an all-powerful cabal of sorcerers.

Dime Store Magic: Women of the Otherworld, Book 3

Paige Winterbourne was always either too young or too rebellious to succeed her mother as leader of one of the world's most powerful elite organizations - the American Coven of Witches. Now that she is 23 and her mother is dead, the Elders can no longer deny her. But even Paige's wildest antics can't hold a candle to those of her new charge - an orphan who is all too willing to use her budding powers for evil.

Excellent continuation of the Series

This third book follows Paige and Savannah after the aftermath of of book one and two. Eliana (main character from first two novels) is mentioned a co..Show More »uple of times. This story is about witches, sorcerers and cabals. I like the story, it was fresh and took a way different trajectory than the first. This story preserved a villain from the book two -- you have to read to see who.

Armstrong continues to do a good job painting interesting characters and placing them into situations where they have to examine moral issues. I find this a much more welcome formulation than simply creating a action bang-chase-bang fantasy novel. I was okay with Merlinton's narration. She narrated briskly, but her multiple voices needs work but still was suitably young for the Paige and Savannah.

This novel appeals to lovers of fantasy. Although this is not a romance novel, it has elements that will keep the interest of the romantic. I give this novel a solid thumbs up.

Industrial Magic

After Paige Winterbourne is ousted as leader of the American Coven of Witches, all she wants to do is hide under her duvet for a few months. Let the supernatural world manage without her, see if she cares… But fate, of course, has other plans. A murderer is on the loose - someone with superhuman skills. When Paige learns that the killer is targeting children, she realises she has to get involved in the covert investigation.

Industrial Magic: Women of the Otherworld, Book 4

In the aftermath of her mother's murder, Paige Winterbourne broke with the elite, ultraconservative American Coven of Witches. Now her goal is to start a new coven for a new generation. But while Paige pitches her vision to uptight 30-something witches in business suits, a more urgent matter commands her attention. Someone is murdering the teenage offspring of the underworld's most influential cabals - a circle of families that makes the mob look like amateurs.

good book

This book is very good. I loved the characters, the story was well paced. There was plenty of action and twists and turns. Its very different from ..Show More »other books in the series, which keeps the series fresh. I love the dynamic between Lucas, Paige and Benicio. I hated the voice of the narrator. She sounds like an old woman with a smoking habit. Not a bad habit, just a light one. I wish I hadn't bought the next book in the series until after I had heard the narrator.

Haunted

Eve Levine - half-demon, black witch and devoted mother - has been dead for three years. She has a great house, an interesting love life and can't be killed again - which comes in handy when you’ve made as many enemies as Eve. Yes, the afterlife isn’t too bad - all she needs to do is find a way to communicate with her daughter Savannah and she’ll be happy. But fate - or more exactly, the Fates - have other plans. Eve owes them a favour, and they’ve just called it in. An evil spirit called the Nix has escaped from hell.

Haunted: Women of the Otherworld, Book 5

Eve Levine - half-demon, black witch, and devoted mother - has been dead for three years. She has a great house, an interesting love life, and can't be killed again - which comes in handy when you've made as many enemies as Eve has. Yes, the afterlife isn't too bad. All she needs to do is find a way to communicate with her daughter, Savannah, and she'll be happy.

Witches, Ghosts and Angels -- Oh My!

Vampires being all the rage, I like this series because it has a mixture of werewolves, ghosts, witches and other beasties -- a sprinkling of vampire..Show More »s. Don't be fooled by the title of the series, there are plenty of men woven into the story. This story in particular is about Eve, the mother of Savannah from a previous novel. In this novel, she is sent out after a Nix as a sort of supernatural bounty hunter and you follow her jaunts as she tracks this nasty creature down. Eve is a mixture of good and evil herself and so the theme is" if you want to catch a criminal, send a criminal" -- but can Eve be reformed from bad witch to -- what?

In order to appreciate this novel, you really should read at least book 2 and book 4; you could skip book 1 and 3 as they are other storylines. I do think reading the whole series is very worthwhile. Also, don't expect sex to be the focal point of these works, they are slight romance and mostly fantasy. If you enjoy the fantasy genre, you'll like this series.

Laural Merlington does a great job in narration. Overall, I continue to find these works light and engaging without be macabre. I recommend you give it a read -- great airplane trip time killer.

Broken: Women of the Otherworld, Book 6

When half-demon Xavier calls in the favour Elena owes him, it seems easy enough - steal Jack the Ripper’s ‘From Hell’ letter away from a Toronto collector who had himself stolen it from the Ripper evidence boxes in the Metropolitan Police files. But nothing in the supernatural world is ever as simple as it seems.

Broken: Women of the Otherworld, Book 6

Ever since she discovered that she's pregnant, Elena Michaels has been on edge. After all, she's never heard of another living female werewolf, let alone one who's given birth. But thankfully, her expertise is needed to retrieve a stolen letter allegedly written by Jack the Ripper. As a distraction, the job seems simple enough---only the letter contains a portal to Victorian London's underworld, which Elena inadvertently triggers, unleashing a vicious killer and a pair of zombie thugs.

Great story..bad narrator

The story is very good and well written. However, the narrator leaves something to be desired. Clayton doesn't sound southern at all. Jeremy sounds o..Show More »ld and dull instead of intelligent but reserved. The 4 stars are for the wonderful story, sadly I would give the narrator a 2.

No Humans Involved

No Humans Involved stars necromancer Jaime Vegas. She’s on a television shoot in Brentwood, Los Angeles when weird things start to happen. Invisible hands brush her arms, she sees movements out of the corner of her eye, and unintelligible fragments of words are whispered in her ear. Jaime’s used to seeing the dead and hearing them clearly. But now, for the first time in her life, she knows what humans mean when they say they’re being haunted.

No Humans Involved: Women of the Otherworld, Book 7

Reluctant to upstage her fellow spiritualists on a reality TV show, Jaime Vegas tries to suppress her talents, as she has done her entire life. But there is something lurking in the maze of gardens behind the house: a spirit without a voice. And it won't let go until somehow Jaime hears its terrible story. For the first time in her life, Jaime Vegas understands what humans mean when they say they are haunted.

Excellent

This is Number 7 in the women of the otherworld. Bitten is also available in audiobook format, (just not through this service). This book is about Jai..Show More »me, a necromancer and her love for the werewolf leader Jeremy.

Personal Demon

Hope Adams, tabloid journalist and half-demon, inherited her Bollywood-princess looks from her mother. From her demon father, she inherited a hunger for chaos, and a talent for finding it. Like full demons, she gets an almost sexual rush from danger - in fact, she thrives on it. But she is determined to use her gifts for good. When the head of the powerful Cortez Cabal asks her to infiltrate a gang of bored, rich, troublemaking super naturals in Miami, Hope can’t resist the excitement.

Personal Demon: Women of the Otherworld, Book 8

Tabloid reporter Hope Adams appears to live the life of an ordinary working girl. But, in addition to possessing the beauty of a Bollywood princess, Hope has other unique traits. For she is a half-demon - a human fathered by a demon. And she has inherited not only a gift for seeing the past but a hunger for chaos - along with a talent for finding it wherever she can.

A Woven thriller -- the series continues to rock

In Personal Demon we finally see the see a lot more of Carl Marsden. Till this novel, he has been a rather minor character even in the novel he was i..Show More »ntroduced. We are also introduced to a new type of supernatural -- Hope Adam, again i minor character from an earlier series. Paige and Lucas are back and we see some kicking of butt in the Cabals. One of the things I like about Armstrong is she doesn't recycle plots. She always has some original, something thrilling. Romance is a background for her story, binding the plot points together instead of being the itself.

In this novel, there were two narrators which worked okay. I think is prefer one and Merlington gets my vote. If you read the series, this is a definite good read, it may stand on its own but you are missing a great deal. Give it a read.

Living with the Dead

Robyn Peltier has always lived a normal life. So when her boss is murdered and she is named the prime suspect, she is way out of her depth. As the bodies pile up only her friend, Hope, and Hope’s somewhat spooky boyfriend, Karl, are on her side. Hope, meanwhile, has a few secrets of her own. Namely that she is half-demon and her ‘spooky’ boyfriend is actually a werewolf. Hope also knows that Robyn has accidentally stumbled into a bloody supernatural turf war.

Living with the Dead: Women of the Otherworld, Book 9

Robyn Peltier moved to Los Angeles after her young husband's sudden death. Though she's still grieving, the challenges of her new life as the PR consultant to Portia Kane - the world's most famous celebutante wannabe - can sometimes be amusing, even distracting. But when her client is gunned down in a nightclub, Robyn is suddenly on the run as the prime suspect in the murder. And as more bodies pile up around her, it seems like only Hope Adams, Robyn's best friend, and Hope's somewhat spooky boyfriend Karl are on Robyn's side. But it's not the police Hope is worried about, and the only way Hope can keep her friend alive is by letting her enter a world she's safer knowing nothing about.

Worst narrator!

The story was great, probably much better if you read the book instead of listening The worst part was the narrator...everyone sounded like a tee..Show More »nage girl so at times it got confusing as to who was talking and the men's voices? They didn't sound male I'm not sure what they sounded like but either way they were not good

Angelic

As a half-demon master of the dark arts, Eve Levine isn't what anyone would call "angelic." That's exactly why the Fates chose her for the job. She's their secret weapon against the forces of evil. However, after five years, Eve is tired of being the designated rebel of the angel corps, expected to break the rules, then being penalized for it. When the leaderless djinn stage an uprising, Eve sees the perfect chance to get herself fired.

Excellent short story -- Nice Character Develpment

This short story fits in very nicely with the entire series. The story centers around one of the prime players -- Eve Levine. Armstrong adds to her ..Show More »depth while creating the instant tension needed in a short story. The action is secondary to what you learn about Eve in particular; there is no romance. If you are reading the series, this is a definite must listen. I do not recommend you listen if you have not read the entire series; which or I should say witch is well worth your while.

Frostbitten: Women of the Otherworld, Book 10

The Alaskan wilderness is a harsh landscape in the best of conditions, but with a pack of rogue werewolves on the loose, it's downright deadly. Elena Michaels, the Pack's chief enforcer, knows all too well the havoc "mutts" can wreak. When they hear of a series of gruesome maulings and murders outside Anchorage, she and her husband, Clay, journey to Alaska in the dead of winter in order to hunt down the dangerous werewolves.

A Alaskan Home Run -- Must Read

This novel more than any others has a theme and premise that you will connect with. In this book we learn about the abuse Elena endured during her ch..Show More »ildhood, how she dealt with it and how she has become a stronger better person. We also get a full understanding of her growth with Clay. I have to applaud Armstrong for delivering a clean, concise theme without coming off preachy. It was believable and uplifting. This book was by far and away her best and, for me, made the series work while.

Unlike other series, by book ten you might be questioning the resolve to continue. I highly recommend that you listen to this book. If you've liked the series so far, this one will keep you listening even after you have arrived at you destination. Jen Taylor does her usual excellent job and delivers great performance.

I am anxious to listen to the next and hope Armstrong continues to belt them out!

Counterfeit Magic

The first rule of a supernatural fight club? Don't kill your opponent. When the fighters come with lethal spells, werewolf strength, and half-demon powers, that can be a lot tougher than it sounds. It's hard to attract talent if they know they might not leave the ring alive. So when fighters at a California club start dying, it's bad for business. Witch detectives Paige Winterbourne and Savannah Levine take the case.

Too short . . . too many loose ends

I understand this is a novella but all the same it could have wrapped things up better . . . other than that a excellent addition to Kelley Armstrong'..Show More »s - Women of the Otherworld series and as usual Laural Merlington does an excellent job as the narrator.

Well worth buying and reading just leaves you wanting more . . . the end seems rushed and leaves lots of the story threads in the air . . .

Waking the Witch

Columbus is a small, fading town, untouched by the twenty-first century. But when three young women are found dead - victims of what appear to be ritual murders - things start to get very dark, and very dangerous…Private investigator Savannah Levine can handle 'dark and dangerous'. As the daughter of a black witch, she has a lot of power running through her veins, and she's not afraid to use it. But her arrival in Columbus has not gone unnoticed.

Waking the Witch: Women of the Otherworld, Book 11

Savannah Levine, sorceress, i's having a hard time convincing her adoptive parents, Paige and Lucas, to take her seriously as an adult. She's working as the research assistant at the detective agency they founded, and when they take off on a romantic vacation alone, leaving her in charge, Savannah finds herself itching for a case to call her own. Suddenly, she gets the chance she's been waiting for: Recruited by another supernatural detective, she travels to Columbus, Washington, a small, dying town.

Outstanding Plot and Theme

Alright, we are on book 11 and this series is going strong. Of particular note is the strong plot. I have to admit, I did not guess what was going t..Show More »o happen in this latest installment by Armstrong. This novel is the first one to center in Savannah where she is the clear protagonist/hero of the story. We are getting a very much humanized (pardon the irony) view of her personality and the changes which differential her from Paige and her mother Eve.

This book has absolutely no sex in it and is really all about character development and interaction and the deepening complexion Savannah's thinking. One key in a novel such as this is how complex the characters are and how they interact -- and it is excellent in this installment. This novel is all about the complex interactions of the small group of characters. Paige and Lucas are on vacation we see a little of Adam.

If you are a fan other series you are really going to like this one. My recommendation -- start listening immediately.

Spell Bound: Women of the Otherworld, Book 12

At last, in the novel every Kelley Armstrong fan will need to own, all the major heroines and heroes of Otherworld are united. It's been 10 years since Bitten, the first novel in Kelley Armstrong's New York Times best-selling Otherworld series. In that time hundreds of thousands of fans have ravenously devoured the adventures of Armstrong's witches, demons, and werewolves. Now, in Spell Bound, she brings them all together for her most sweeping tale yet.

Will Savanna Grow-up -- The Big Question

I didn't realize that this series was going to end with a trilogy focused on Savannah. In this second to last book, Savannah finds herself without he..Show More »r powers and really questioning herself about her own self worth. It's a little disconcerting to she her confidence stripped away and then slowly build. Will she admit her feeling for Adam, will she escape? What will happen in the third book?

Okay, Armstrong does a great job with this second of the trilogy and next to last book of the series. This is a must read and I move on with eagerness to the third and last. This is a must read.

Men of the Otherworld

As Clayton grows from a wild child to a clever teen who tests his mentor at every turn, he must learn not only to control his animal instincts but to navigate Pack politics - including showing his brutal archnemesis who the real Alpha is.

Excellent backstory, but not a prequel

This book contains the back stories and in-between stories of several of the non-narrator characters. I would NOT listen to it as a prequel. Although ..Show More »the events in the begining take place before "Bitten" (Book 1), some of the later events take place after "No Humans Involved" (Book 7) and contains spoilers.

Tales of the Otherworld

Have you ever wondered how lone wolf Clayton Danvers finally got bitten by the last thing he ever expected: love? Or how the hot-blooded bad-girl witch Eve Levine managed to ensnare the cold, ruthless corporate sorcerer, Kristof Nast in one of the Otherworld’s most unlikely pairings? Now, Otherworld readers can share these moments with some of their favorite characters—as well as catching welcome glimpses into the minds of some of the lesser-known players

A must for a fan

I have read most of the stories included in this anthology on the author's website, when it was posted there for free. It was nice to read them again..Show More » and enjoy the background prospective of the characters in her books.

Stories:
Rebirth (How Aaron became a vampire)= interesting
Bewitched (How Eve and Kristof Nast met and became involved)=was really touching
Birthright (How Logan came to Stonehaven)=nice back story
Beginnings (How Elena became werewolf)
=for a fan this story is a must! gives good back ground to Elena and how Clay thinks
Expectations (A short story of Lucas)= nice!
Ghosts (A self reflection by Jeremy during Bitten)= kind of sad but makes you love Jeremy even more
Wedding Bell Hell (Paige&Lucas's wedding)=funny and insightful
The Case of El Chupacabra (Paige&Lucas's investigation)=interesting and gives background to how P&L got their office.

I especially loved reading Paige's wedding and laughed out loud at some parts. Now that I don't hate Eve after reading about her, it was nice to know how she met Savannah's dad.

I don't know if the first time reader will enjoy this book as much. Since the stories here were written for fans so that they can enjoy the added depth to the characters of her otherworld stories. For the fans of the series this book is a must for new comers. I recommend they read the main stories first. For the fans, I would strongly recommend this book!

13

War is coming to the Otherworld. A sinister cult known as The Supernatural Liberation Movement is hell-bent on exposing the truth about super naturals to the rest of the world. Their violent, ruthless plan has put everyone at risk: from werewolves to vampires, from witches to half-demons. Savannah Levine - fiery and unpredictable - stands at the heart of the maelstrom. There is a new, dark magic inside her, granting her the power to summon spells of terrifying strength. But whether this magic is a gift or a curse, no one knows.

Thirteen: Women of the Otherworld, Book 13

A war is brewing - the first battle has been waged and Savannah Levine is left standing, albeit battered and bruised. She has rescued her half-brother from supernatural medical testing, but he's fighting to stay alive. The Supernatural Liberation Movement took him hostage, and they have a maniacal plan to expose the supernatural world to the unknowing. Savannah has called upon her inner energy to summon spells with frightening strength - a strength she never knew she had - as she fights to keep her world from shattering.

A fitting end to a fabulous series

In this last book of the series, all of the characters make their final appearances and contribute to a complex plot. Armstrong manages to spin a yar..Show More »d of thriller intrigue that has you seeing death, rebirth, renewal and endings. I am very happy with the endings and how loose ends are tied up. Savannah is the main protagonist, along with Adam, they go up against a group intent on killing tens of thousands of innocents.

I will miss these characters. The narrator, Parker, finishes with a stellar performance. This series will appeal to those who like a supernatural bent to their romances. The supernatural is not over the top and is definitely swapped out by the thriller aspect. I recommend the whole series. Nice job Armstrong.